Iylaine asks for Alwy's help
Alwy hummed tunelessly to himself as he worked. He was as proud as could be of his new horse – a daughter of the King’s own bay stallion! – and he wanted her bridle to shine as brightly as those of the gentlemen’s horses.
Alwy still couldn’t understand how he had come to be so lucky. When he was a young man, he never thought – not that he ever thought much about what he couldn’t have – that he would be a free man someday, or that he would be a prosperous enough farmer to own his own horse from the King’s stables, or that he would have two houses, or that he would have as fine a wife as Gunnilda or fine children such as he had – had never thought he would have a wife or children at all!
It didn’t make sense… when he was young, people would shake their heads and say how unlucky it was that he had lost his head. His lucky and clever brothers had grown up and married and had children and worked hard, but none of them had accomplished the half of what he had. And there was only one Gunnilda. But then, perhaps that was why.
“I guess you’re a lucky man, after all, Alwy Hogge,” he chuckled to himself. “I guess so!” He blew a bit of imaginary dust off the bridle and held it up to admire it.
“How come you say you’re lucky, Alwy?” a small voice asked behind him.
“Why, hallo Baby! I guess I said I’m lucky because I’m happy.”
“Why are you happy? Is it ’cause you got a new horse? Can I sit here with you?”
“Of course you can,” he said, making room. “I am happy ’cause I got a new horse, but I guess I’m mostly happy ’cause I have everything else a man could want too.”
“Like what?” she asked, leaning her head against his arm.
“Well, like all you kids. And Gunnie, and my friends, and my farm, and everything. I guess I haven’t had any reasons to be sad in my life, so I better be happy! Say, does Gunnie know you’re out here?” he asked, suddenly suspicious.
“She’s giving all the kids a bath, but I already had one with my Da, so she said I could come out to the barn to see you, if I don’t bother you. I’m not bothering you, am I?”
“Well, I guess I don’t see how you could.”
“That’s good, ’cause I want to ask you something.”
“What?”
“I want to ask you, how come you cut the puppies’ ears? I want to know.”
“Well, Baby, you got to cut their ears because their ears is too long and floppy, and then they get water in there or bugs in there and they can’t get out ’cause the ears is hanging down, and they get sick in the head and die or go deaf. That’s why.”
“Does it hurt?”
“Well, I guess that’s why I do it when they’re still puppies. I guess it don’t hurt so much when they’re small. But I guess it only hurts real quick. They sure don’t seem to mind after it’s over, and their Mama just licks their little heads and makes them better, like when Gunnie kisses your hurts.”
“I want to ask you something else, too.”
“What?”
“Can you cut my ears, Alwy?”
“Cut your ears?” Alwy gasped. “We don’t cut people’s ears!”
“But I’m not a people, I’m an elf, that’s what Gunnie says. And I don’t want to be any more, so can you cut my ears? If it doesn’t hurt too much?”
“But – but – Baby! I like your ears the way they are!”
“My Da doesn’t. I guess he wishes I had ears like people. So can you do it?”
“No, Baby, I guess I won’t! And I guess your Da likes your ears just fine, and I do too.”
“Then how come he makes me cover them with my hair?”
“Well, I guess I don’t know, Baby. Maybe you should ask him. I think they’re real pretty, just like the ears on a fawn. Let me see,” he said, gently brushing her hair back. “I guess they are the prettiest ears I ever saw on a lady. Maybe your Da just wants you to hide ‘em so all the boys don’t fall in love with you and break their poor hearts over you. I guess I would have when I was a boy,” he smiled shyly. “I guess I better watch out for poor Bertie.”
“Oh, Bertie!” she cried. “He’s just a stupid boy!”
“Well, I guess he’s going to be a man someday, and then what?” he teased.
“He’ll still be stupid.”
Alwy laughed. “You watch, he’ll be the cleverest man you know someday. Maybe you will want to marry him!”
Baby threw her arms around him and hid her face in his shoulder. “How come I can’t marry you or my Da?” she mumbled into his tunic.
“It don’t matter how come, Baby, ’cause you’ll find someone you like better some day. But I’m real honored you asked. That makes two fine women what wanted to marry old Alwy,” he chuckled, stroking her long hair.
